With the midweek matchday 16 in the bag the final matches for the Hinrunde, the fall season finale of the Bundeslgia is finally here.
Highlights from matchday 16
BVB hired the unemployed Peter Stoger and it seemed like a bandaid. That was until they faced off against Mainz. Playing a more defensive style BVB came away with a 2-0 victory, their first Bundesliga victory since September.
RB Leipzig has been seen, with Dortmund’s fall, as one of the best teams to give a run at the Bundesliga title. Surprisingly in a frigid Wolfsburg that was not to be. A 1-1 draw that should only be called scrappy. Wolfsburg showed again that they can play and be successful against the best in the Bundesliga.
Bundesliga Talking Points
Peter Stoger was very much under fire at FC Koln, and understandably. His team finished 5th in the previous campaign and while selling their top striker they did not find a replacement. And with no replacement for goals the results dried up.
Lets take into consideration the following. In Germany it is down to the sporting director to get the players and the trainer or manager to use the players. Sadly Koln had next to no recruitment, and the injuries have piled up to such an extent that an unknown 16 year old from the youth academy has been brought in to start to play.
In the summer Stoger was courted by Dortmund and he stayed with Koln. There are thoughts that Dortmund has the stop gap fix. Rumors are swirling about in regards to Julian Naglesmann coming in in the summer. Things will hardly be easy in BVB fandom, but it will be said that Stoger is better suited to fixing the epic decline that’s been there as opposed to Peter Bosz.
Bundeliga Matches of the Week
Schalke 04 has been the surprise team of the Hinrunde. Eintracht has been a good side as well. This match up of two traditional teams is what the Bundesliga loves to promote. It is also a match up of two of the young exciting coaches in the Bundesliga, with Niko Kovac and Domenico Tedesco.
Stuttgart is always a tough one for Bayern Munich. Bayern has dropped the points this season on the road and no wonder. Stuttgart is just gaining points at home and with both going up against each other at the Mercedez Benz Arena anything could happen.
Borussia Dortmund has changed their coach and gotten a win, finally. Next up is Hoffenheim who believe that they should be up higher in the table from where they are. This is for both sides a suitable end to the Hinrunde, as both look to set themselves up for a good return after the winter break.
Bundesliga on FOX
Friday starts the week with a good one. On Fox Sports 2 Borussia Monchengladbach faces off against relegation threatened HSV.
Saturday is another strong slate. Early action shows Bayern Munich visit Stuttgart on Fox Sports 1. On FS2 is Schalke and Eintracht Frankfurt. On Fox Sports Plus FC Koln hosts Wolfsburg.
The Saturday late match, topspiel, Borussia Dortmund hosts Hoffenheim on FSP.
Sunday’s doubleheader begins with Hannover 96 hosting Bayer Leverkusen on FS1. On FS2 RB Leipzig hosts Hertha Berlin.
